Watertown, Roberts County 911 Dispatchers Among 15 Graduating from South Dakota Training Program

Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - The South Dakota Attorney General’s Office announced that 15 students will graduate Friday from the state’s Basic Telecommunicator Certification Course, a two‑week training program that prepares new 911 dispatchers for emergency service work statewide.

Attorney General Marty Jackley praised the graduates and noted the critical role telecommunicators play in public safety.

“Telecommunicators are important in any emergency because they offer life‑saving information to the responding agencies,” Jackley said. “We can’t thank them enough for their service.”

The graduates represent 10 law enforcement and communication centers across South Dakota. The course includes instruction and hands‑on exercises in public safety telecommunications, caller interaction, managing emergency and non‑emergency calls, and prioritizing multiple incidents at once.

Staff from the State Division of Criminal Investigation’s Office of Law Enforcement Training, experienced 911 telecommunicators, and other public safety stakeholders provide the training.

Local Graduates

Two graduates represent Northeast South Dakota:

·         Timothy Frewing, Watertown Police Department

·         Jemarie Nicks, Roberts County Sheriff’s Office

Friday’s ceremony begins at 3:30 p.m. CST at the George S. Mickelson Criminal Justice Center in Pierre. Pierre Police Chief Dusty Pelle will deliver the keynote address.

Full List of Graduates – 82nd Session

·         Sarah Bestgen, Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office

·         Veronica Brave, Rosebud Police Department

·         Abbigail Copeland, Union County Sheriff’s Office

·         Tera Flannery, Union County Sheriff’s Office

·         Timothy Frewing, Watertown Police Department

·         Yvonne Gaona, Central South Dakota Communications

·         Zayda Ginsbach, Metro Communications

·         Melissa Johnson, Crow Creek Sioux Tribe (BIA)

·         SierraAnn McCall, Central South Dakota Communications

·         Madison Miller, Brown County Sheriff’s Office

·         Gerald Mokros, Jr., Metro Communications

·         Jemarie Nicks, Roberts County Sheriff’s Office

·         Emily Ragains, Pennington County Emergency Services Communications Center

·         D’Artagnan Witherspoon, Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office

·         Kaleigh Wooden Knife, Rosebud Police Department